Preview: Cittadella opens the new year against Virtus Verona

After a two week pause in Serie C, Cittadella returns to the field on Saturday as the Granata face struggling Virtus Verona at the Stadio Piercesare Tombolato.

Manuel Iori’s men finished 2025 with a 2-0 road victory against Giana Erminio to secure fourth place at the halfway mark of the season. Cittadella has lost only once in its last 13 outings, but is looking to win at home for the first time since Nov. 15.

It’s a different story for Virtus Verona. After collecting 10 points in its first eight games, Luigi Fresco’s squad has picked up one win since the end of September as the Rossoblù sit 17th in Girone A.

But despite their table position, Iori remains cautious of his opponent’s dangers.

“Virtus Verona had some difficulties at home in the first part of the season, but they’ve always picked up points away from home,” Iori said in his prematch press conference. “There are no easy matches in Serie C, as the league has shown. It will be a tough match, Virtus is a team with unique characteristics. They do some things very well, and we’ll have to be careful.”

Iori confirmed that veteran midfielder Andrea Barberis is back in the squad after missing the last five games with a calf injury. Defender Matteo Angeli is also expected to be available for the first time this season.

However, the Venetians won’t have three key players for tomorrow’s clash. Defender Andrea Cecchetto is still recovering from a surgery to his fractured septum. Starting goalkeeper Alessandro Zanellati is out with a dislocated right shoulder, while leading scorer Davide Castelli is set to be out for the month with a knee strain.

“This period has given us the rest we needed,” Iori said. “Now, however, we need to get back on track immediately, because the second half of the season must be approached in the right way.”

Despite sitting in the relegation playout zone, all three of Virtus Verona’s victories this season came on the road. Fresco’s side ended 2025 on a five match unbeaten run to sit three points from safety.

But Virtus Verona will make the trip to Cittadella without striker Davide De Marchi, who is set to be out long term after suffering an ACL injury in December. De Marchi scored 16 goals for the Rossoblù during the 2024-25 campaign, but only found the net twice this season before the injury.

The visitors will also be without midfielder and captain Leonardo Zarpellon for Saturday’s clash, who is sidelined due to yellow card accumulation.

After picking up three straight home wins in October and November, Cittadella is looking to return to winning ways at the Tombolato after two consecutive home draws. The Granata will face two teams in the relegation zone at home during January–Virtus Verona and Pergolettese–in addition to trips against playoff rivals Alcione Milano and league leaders Vicenza.

The upcoming run of games provides an opportunity for Iori’s squad to make up ground in the table and start the new year strongly.

“It’s a match where we have to send a message to ourselves and stay close to those ahead of us,” Iori said. “We have a whole second half of the season to prove we can do better.”

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PHOTO: Massimo Felicetti / A.S. Cittadella